Cover not available
Part of
Widening Contexts for Processability Theory: Theories and issues
Edited by Anke Lenzing, Howard Nicholas and Jana Roos
[Processability Approaches to Language Acquisition Research & Teaching 7] 2019
► pp. 131–154

Chapter 6
Developing morpho-syntax in non-configurational languages

A comparison between Russian L2 and Italian L2

Within the Processability Theory (PT) framework, the Topic Hypothesis (Pienemann et al., 2005) and its recent reformulation as the Prominence Hypothesis (Bettoni & Di Biase, 2015) have contributed substantially to explaining syntactic development in non-configurational languages, adding an important discourse-pragmatic component. However, the role of morphological development cannot be ignored, because in this type of languages it is morphology that constructs syntactic relations (Nordlinger, 1998). This chapter will look at syntactic development by attempting to incorporate both morphological and discourse-pragmatic factors in a way that is consistent with the predictions of PT’s Prominence Hypothesis. Specifically, I will look at the development of morpho-syntax in Russian L2 and Italian L2 – two languages located towards the less configurational end of the typological spectrum, the former more dependent-marking, the latter more head-marking.

Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Marked word orders in Russian and Italian
  • 3.The developmental hypotheses
  • 4.Empirical evidence
  • 5.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 28 November 2019
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/palart.7.06mag
References
Artoni, D., & Magnani, M.
(2013) LFG contribution in second language acquisition research: The development of case in Russian L2. In M. Butt & T. H. King (Eds.), Proceedings of the LFG13 Conference (pp. 69–89). Stanford, CA: CSLI.Google Scholar
Asudeh, A.
(2004) Resumption as resource management (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Stanford University, CA.Google Scholar
Belletti, A., Bennati, E., & Sorace, A.
(2007) Theoretical and developmental issues in the syntax of subjects: Evidence from near-native Italian. Natural Language and Linguistic Theory 25, 657–689. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Bettoni, C., & Di Biase, B.
(2011) Beyond canonical order. The acquisition of marked word orders in Italian as a second language. In L. Roberts, G. Pallotti, & C. Bettoni (Eds.), Eurosla Yearbook 11 (pp. 244–272). Amsterdam: John Benjamins.Google Scholar
(2015) Processability Theory: Theoretical bases and universal schedules. In C. Bettoni & B. Di Biase (Eds.), Grammatical development in second languages. Exploring the boundaries of Processability Theory (pp. 19–79). Paris: Eurosla.Google Scholar
Bettoni, C., & Ginelli, G.
(2015) Acquiring constituent questions in Italian as a second language. In C. Bettoni & B. Di Biase (Eds.), Grammatical development in second languages. Exploring the boundaries of Processability Theory (pp. 243–258). Paris: Eurosla.Google Scholar
Bresnan, J.
(2001) Lexical-functional syntax. Oxford: Blackwell.Google Scholar
Butt, M., & King, T. H.
(1996) Structural topic and focus without movement. In M. Butt & T. H. King (Eds.), Online Proceedings of the first LFG Conference 1996.Google Scholar
Cardinaletti, A., & Starke, M.
(1999) The typology of structural deficiency: A case study of three classes of pronouns. In H. Van Riemsdijk (Ed.). Clitics in the languages of Europe (pp. 145–233). Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Comrie, B.
(2011) Russian. In B. Comrie (Ed.), The major languages of the world (pp. 274–288). London: Routledge.Google Scholar
Dalrymple, M.
(2001) Syntax and semantics: Lexical functional grammar. San Diego, CA: Academic Press. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Dalrymple, M., & Nikolaeva, I.
(2011) Objects and information structure. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Di Biase, B.
(2004) Processability Theory and the course of acquisition of clitic pronouns in Italian. Paper presented at the 4th International Symposium on Processabilty, Second Language Acquisition and Bilingualism, 13th-16th April 2004, University of Sassari.Google Scholar
(2007) A processability approach to the acquisition of Italian as a second language: Theory and applications (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Australian National University, Canberra.Google Scholar
Di Biase, B., & Bettoni, C.
(2015) The development of Italian as a second language. In C. Bettoni & B. Di Biase (Eds.), Grammatical development in second languages. Exploring the boundaries of Processability Theory (pp. 117–147). Paris: Eurosla.Google Scholar
Di Biase, B., Bettoni, C., & Medojević, L.
(2015) The development of case: A study of Serbian in contact with Australian English. In C. Bettoni, & B. Di Biase (Eds.), Grammatical development in second languages: Exploring the boundaries of Processability Theory (pp. 195–212). Paris: Eurosla.Google Scholar
Dyakonova, M.
(2009)  A phase-based approach to Russian free word order (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Universiteit Amsterdam.Google Scholar
Ferrari, S., & Nuzzo, E.
(2009) Task per l’elicitazione di strutture opzionali in italiano L2. Rassegna Italiana di Linguistica Applicata 1(2), 235–250.Google Scholar
Kallestinova, E. D.
(2007) Aspects of word order in Russian (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of Iowa, IA.Google Scholar
Kempen, G., & Hoenkamp, E.
(1987) An incremental procedural grammar for sentence formulation. Cognitive Science 1(1), 201–258. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
King, T. H.
(1995) Configuring topic and focus in Russian. Stanford, CA: CSLI.Google Scholar
Kroeger, P. R.
(2005) Analysing grammar: An introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Leonini, C., & Belletti, A.
(2004) Adult L2 acquisition of Italian clitic pronouns and subject inversion structures. In J. van Kampen & S. Baauw (Eds.), Proceedings of Gala 2003 (pp. 293–304). Utrecht: LOT.Google Scholar
Levelt, W. J. M.
(1989) Speaking: From intention to articulation. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.Google Scholar
Levelt, W. J. M., Roelofs, A., & Meyer, A. S.
(1999) A theory of lexical access in speech production. Behavioral and Brain Sciences 22(1), 1–75. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Lowe, J., & Mycock, L
(2014) Issues in the representation of information structure. Paper presented at the LFG ’14 Conference, July 17th-20th, Ann Arbor, MI.Google Scholar
Nordlinger, R.
(1997)  Constructive case: Dependent-marking non-configurationality in Australia (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Stanford University.Google Scholar
(1998) Constructive Case: Evidence from Australian languages. Stanford, CA: CSLI.Google Scholar
Pienemann, M.
(1998) Language processing and second language development: Processability Theory. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Pienemann, M., Di Biase, B., & Kawaguchi, S.
(2005) Extending Processability Theory. In M. Pienemann (Ed.), Cross-linguistic aspects of processability theory (pp. 199–251). Amsterdam: John Benjamins. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Renzi, L., Salvi, G. P., & Cardinaletti, A.
(2001) Grande grammatica Italiana di consultazione. Bologna: Il Mulino.Google Scholar
Rizzi, L.
(1997) The fine structure of the left periphery. In L. Haegeman (Ed.), Elements of grammar (pp. 281–337). Dordrecht: Kluwer. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Salvi, G., & Vanelli, L.
(2004) Nuova grammatica Italiana. Bologna: Il Mulino.Google Scholar
Schwarze, C.
(2009) Grammatica della lingua Italiana. Roma: Carocci.Google Scholar
Sorace, A
(2006) Possible manifestations of shallow processing in advanced second language speakers. Applied Psycholinguistics 27(1), 88–91.Google Scholar
Sorace, A., & Filiaci, F.
(2006) Anaphora resolution in near-native speakers of Italian. Second Language Research 22(3), 339–368. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Sorace, A., & Serratrice, L.
(2009) Internal and external interfaces in bilingual language development: Beyond structural overlap . International Journal of Bilingualism 13(2), 195–210. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Van Valin Jr., R. D.
(2007) Some thoughts on the reason for the lesser status of typology in the USA as opposed to Europe. Linguistic Typology 11(1), 253–257.Google Scholar
Cited by

Cited by 3 other publications

Kawaguchi, Satomi
2023. Chapter 2. Studies of Japanese as a second language and their contribution to Processability Theory. In Processability and Language Acquisition in the Asia-Pacific Region [Processability Approaches to Language Acquisition Research & Teaching, 9], ► pp. 27 ff. DOI logo
Kawaguchi, Satomi, Bruno Di Biase & Yumiko Yamaguchi
2023. Chapter 1. Processability Theory, second language learning and teaching in the Asia-Pacific region. In Processability and Language Acquisition in the Asia-Pacific Region [Processability Approaches to Language Acquisition Research & Teaching, 9], ► pp. 1 ff. DOI logo
Keßler, Jörg‐U. & Anke Lenzing
2022. Grammar in Foreign and Second Language Classes. In The TESOL Encyclopedia of English Language Teaching, ► pp. 1 ff. DOI logo

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 23 march 2024. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.